USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume II > Part 74
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WILLIAM HENRY HOWELL.
William Henry Howell, owning and occupying one of Boise's finest residences at No. 1225 Warm Springs avenue, is widely known as a prominent sheepman and wool grower of the state. He is numbered among Idaho's pioneers, having re- moved from Evanston, Wyoming, in 1885 and taken up his abode in what was then the territory of Idaho. He was born in Syracuse, New York, April 15, 1854, a son of George and Eliza (Jones) Howell, but the mother passed away when her son William was but three weeks old. The father was a native of New York and during the greater part of his life was a seafaring man, at one time being second mate on the old ocean liner Minnesota, sailing between New York and Liverpool. After the death of his first wife he married again and by that 'union had a family of four children. The father passed away in 1876.
William H. Howell, the only child of his father's first marriage, was reared by his maternal grandmother in Syracuse, New York. He quit school at the age of fourteen years, left home and came west with an uncle, who settled at Bannock, Montana. This was in the year 1869. Mr. Howell has since been identified with the west, residing at different periods in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Idaho. At the age of eighteen years he took up railroad work as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad, his headquarters being at Ogden, Utah. When nineteen years of age he was a freight conductor on the Southern Pacific and later he spent several years in the employ of the Union Pacific and for a number of years resided in Evanston, Wyoming, during which period he was connected with railroad service in various capacities in the employ of the Union Pacific. His railroad experience covered fifteen years in all. He was for several years a conductor on both freight and passenger trains.
Following his removal to Idaho in 1885, Mr. Howell turned his attention to sheep raising, with which he has since been identified, and is now the vice presl- dent of the Butterfield Live Stock Company of Weiser, Idaho, a concern that is extensively engaged in the handling of sheep, having many thousand head of pure bred and registered sheep of the Hampshire, Lincoln and Rambouillet breeds. At the present writing the Butterfield Live Stock Company has about fifteen thousand registered pure bred sheep, this being thought to be the largest flock of pure bred sheep in the United States. A. G. Butterfield, of Weiser, is the president of
WILLIAM H. HOWELL
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the company, of which Mr. Howell is the vice president. The company also owns many thousand acres of valuable ranch land in the vicinity of Weiser, most of it in Washington county, Idaho. Mr. Howell is widely recognized as one of the suc- cessful sheepmen of the state, operating along this line during the past third of a century, and success in very substantial measure has crowned his efforts. He has also been identified with many other activities of Idaho which have profited by his cooperation and sound judgment. He was one of the chief organizers of the old Bank of Idaho, a state bank, which was soon nationalized and merged into the present Pacific National Bank. He acted as director of the former and con- tinued in the same capacity in connection with the latter until a recent date, when he sold his interests in the bank. He is now the vice president of the Idaho Dressed Beef Company.
On the 9th of October, 1879, in Ogden, Utah, Mr. Howell was married to Miss Eliza Rebecca Staker, who was born in Ogden and is a member of one of the old Mormon families of that state. They have three daughters living: Grace, now the wife of A. L. Jones, of San Francisco, California; Mary Ann, at home; and Ada Blanch, the wife of Elwood Gray, also of San Francisco. There are also two grandchildren: Eileen Howell, aged nine, who has been adopted by her grand- parents and lives with them; and Elwood Gray, Jr., now about a year old.
Mr. Howell is a republican and was twice elected to the office of county com- missioner of Ada county. He is a thirty-second degree and Knight Templar Mason, also a member of the Mystic Shrine and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He became a charter member of El Korah Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Boise and is also a charter member of Boise Consistory, S. P. R. S. Masonry finds in him a loyal follower and worthy exemplar, and he enjoys the highest respect of his brothers of the fraternity. In community affairs he has always been deeply and helpfully interested, and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any plan or project for the public good. One of his activities in Boise covered the city sprinkling contract, which he held jointly with Edward Oetner for a period of five years. The execution of this contract involved the expenditure of about thirty thousand dollars in equipment. Later he sold his interests in this to his partner. He now occupies what is known as the handsome Kingsbury residence at No. 1225 Warm Springs avenue, which he purchased a few years ago. This was built of Idaho cut stone about sixteen years ago and is a fine residence of sixteen rooms, thoroughly modern in its equipment and appointment. It was built at a time when material was cheap at a cost of twenty-two thousand, five hundred dollars and is worth much more than that at the present. It is richly and tastefully furnished, and one of its chief attractions is its warmhearted hospitality, which the family cordially extend to their many friends.
WILLIAM J. N. ADAMS.
William J. N. Adams, the sheriff of Jefferson county and now a resident of Rigby, has the distinction of being the first white child born in this county. He was born at Market Lake, now Jefferson county, December 13, 1870, a son of Wil- liam J. and Mary A. (Morrison) Adams, the former of whom was a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Tennessee.
William J. Adams, the father, was one of the pioneers of what is now Jefferson county, after his removal here from Tennessee in 1867, at which time. he took up a homestead in what was then Oneida county. As this section grew and prospered and more and more home-seekers established themselves here, new counties were organized; hence the homestead was first in Oneida county, then in Bingham, later in Fremont and finally in Jefferson county. After establishing himself upon his homestead, Mr. Adams, true pioneer that he was, set about improving his holding and here he carried on stock raising exclusively for the remainder of his life, which ended in February, 1904, and that of his wife, the mother of our subject, in Oc- tober, 1902.
Here on his father's homestead William J. N. Adams grew to manhood, lending his assistance to the task of improving the place and at the same time laying the foundation for his career in the hard school of experience. During his boyhood
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he received his elementary education in the local school, which training was later supplemented in the schools at Idaho Falls.
Like many westerners Mr. Adams has a liking for the stock business, having gained much valuable experience in this work not only under the tutelage of his father but also while he was punching cattle for several cow outfits during his early manhood. Finally he went into business on his own account at Roberts, Idaho, operating a hotel and dealing in horses and cattle, at which place he remained for thirty-five years. At the end of that period he came to Rigby, where he was engaged in the livery business for five years. As time has passed Mr. Adams has taken up other interests besides that of a stockman, since he now has farming interests in Bonneville county, this state, and owns stock in the Beet Growers Sugar Company of Rigby.
On January 17, 1894. Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Janey Gilchrist, and to this union have been born the following three children: John N., aged twenty- four, who is the cashier of the Jefferson County National Bank of Rigby; Willard, aged twenty-one, a rancher in Swan valley, Idaho, and Mabel, sixteen years old, . who is at home.
In politics Mr. Adams is a stanch democrat, but unlike many American cit- izens he is not content with taking a passive interest in the duties of citizenship, for he has served his fellow citizens as a member of the town board of Rigby. His painstaking care in the discharge of the duties of this office so commended him to the people of Jefferson county that they elected him sheriff in 1914, which office he has held to the present time. Mr. Adams takes a keen interest in the fraternal activities of the community, being a member of the Masons, . the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and at their home in Rigby they take an active part in all movements which have for their object the moral, spiritual and social betterment of their community.
IRA BARBOUR.
Ira Barbour, treasurer and general manager of the Grant Six Auto Company of Boise, a business that was incorporated on the 14th of February, 1919, has been a resident of the capital city since the fall of 1914, when he removed to Idaho from Winnipeg, Manitoba. For only a year and a half, however, had he resided in that place. He is a native son of the United States, his birth having occurred upon a farm near Madison, Wisconsin, June 20, 1877, his parents being Charles B. and May (Johnson) Barbour, both of whom have now passed away. They spent the greater part of their lives in Wisconsin, their last days being passed in Dane county, where the father followed the occupation of farming.
Ira Barbour, an only son, was reared upon his father's farm in Dane county, Wisconsin, and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. As his parents were in comfortable financial circumstances, they gave him every advantage for the acquirement of a good education and he eagerly availed himself of the opportunity. After attending the country schools he became a student in the high school at Madison, Wisconsin, which was only three miles from his home, and was there graduated at the age of nineteen years. He is the only living member of his father's family, for the two sisters died in childhood. While still a resident of the Mississippi valley Mr. Barbour was married in WIs- consin, in 1897, to Miss May Jackson, who was also born and reared in Dane county and was an acquaintance of his boyhood days. For several years after his marriage he and his wife traveled largely throughout the United States and Canada. Being financially independent, they wisely decided that while they were young and could enjoy themselves they would make the most of their opportunities for travel. Many of their trips were made in a motor car, both greatly enjoying this means of going from point to point. They still spend about three months of every sum- mer on a long motor trip. They finally decided to locate permanently in Boise, where they took up their abode in 1914, and since reaching this city Mr. Barbour has been identified with the automobile business and has become familiar with all phases of it, both from the mechanical and sales standpoints. In February, 1919, he became the chief organizer of the Grant Six Auto Company, doing business
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at Nos. 206 to 212 South Tenth street. This company acts as distributors for the Boise and southwestern Idaho district for the Grant motor cars and trucks and already is developing a very substantial and gratifying business.
Mr. and Mrs. Barbour have become parents of three children: Charles, Robert and Ethel. The first named was at Camp Colts, Pennsylvania, when the armistice was signed and has now returned home. He is twenty years of age, while Robert is aged eighteen and Ethel is a little maiden of eight summers. Mr. Barbour be- longs to the Boise Commercial Club, also to the Boise Automobile Association and in politics he is a republican with firm belief in the principles of the party but has never been a candidate for office. Relieved largely of the necessity of close application to business, he has made wise use of his time and opportunities, gain- ing that broad culture and knowledge which is obtained through travel and which precludes any possibility of a narrow view of life.
HENRY A. MUNNS.
Henry A. Munns, who has been called to the office of sheriff of Madison county and who is a valued resident of Rexburg, was born in England, March 4, 1871, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Collis) Munns, who were natives of that coun- try and after emigrating to America made their way to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they arrived in 1877. The father soon afterward took up a homestead near Lehi, thirty miles south of Salt Lake City. He improved that place and continued its cultivation throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in August, 1912. The mother survived until September, 1915.
Henry A. Munns was but seven years of age when his parents came to America and was reared and educated in Utah county, Utah, where he remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He then took up the occupation of mining, which he followed for several years. Purchasing land in Cache county, he bent his energies to its further development and improvement and continued its operation for eight years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Rex- burg, Madison county, Idaho, and bought land thirteen miles from the town. Again he concentrated his attention upon general agricultural pursuits and has since cul- tivated this place, from which he has gathered substantial harvests as the reward of his care and industry.
On the 7th of March, 1892, Mr. Munns was married to Miss Sarah Weeks and to them have been born ten children: Beatrice, the wife of Henry Hathcock, a hard- ware merchant at Ririe, Jefferson county, Idaho; Alvin, who is engaged in farming in Madison county; Lulu, who is the wife of W. D. Cook, of Rexburg; Susan; Ar- thur; Myrtle; Rebecca; George; Eva; and Mary.
The religious faith of Mr. Munns is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints and fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. Polit- ically he is an earnest republican and for two years he served as city marshal at Cache Valley, Utah. He also served for four years as deputy sheriff of Madison county, Idaho, and in November, 1919, was elected to the office of sheriff, the du- ties of which he is discharging with marked promptness and fidelity, making a most creditable record by his efficiency and his fearlessness.
JAMES J. CHANDLER.
James J. Chandler, treasurer of Jefferson county and a resident of Righy, where he has been very active in religious and educational circles for the last sixteen or eighteen years, was horn July 16, 1849, in Eynesbury, Huntingdonshire, England, and is the son of Samuel and Mary ( Jarvis) Chandler, also natives of Eng- land. The father, who was a laborer in the old country, hecame impressed by the opportunities of the common man in the new world and accordingly emigrated with his family to America in 1866. Arriving on these shores, they pushed westward to Willard, Utah, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives, the death of the father occurring in 1882 and that of the mother in 1896.
James J. Chandler received comparatively little schooling in the land of his
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nativity since he was by the force of circumstances compelled to go to work at the early age of eight years. Although he was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years when he settled with his parents in Utah, he soon entered a neighboring district school, where he completed his elementary education in a comparatively short time. Not being satisfied with this, he furthered his education by two terms of work in the University of Utah, after which he taught school in Utah for twenty-six years. Feeling that he could find better opportunities farther north, he and his family came to Idaho in 1901 and located in Rigby, where he taught school for four years, He then purchased a small farm one-half mile north of Rigby, giving its development and cultivation his careful attention until 1914, when he disposed of it. Mr. Chandler is a stockholder in the Beet Growers Sugar Company of Rigby and also has mining interests in Utah.
He has taken more than a passive interest in the administration of public affairs in his community, and his personal integrity and good judgment have caused his neighbors, who hold him in high esteem, to confer upon him the honor and respon- sibility of public office. He was elected treasurer of Jefferson county in 1914 and is still serving in that capacity. He has also served as justice of the peace and has the distinction of having been a member of the first board of trustees the village of Rigby ever had. His administration of the duties entailed by the public trusts which he has held has met with the universal commendation of the people of the com- munity, because of his strict attention to business and courteous treatment.
On October 7, 1874, Mr. Chandler married Harriet Cordon and to them have been born nine children: Emily; Hattie; Cora, the wife of W. S. Burton, superintendent of the Jefferson county schools, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Ada; William J .; Ruth, whose death occurred September 19, 1917; Mabel; Arthur R .; and June.
Mr. and Mrs. Chandler are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the former is especially active in church work being ward clerk, a mem- ber of the high council of the Rigby stake, senior member of the patriarch and super- visor of the parents' class in the Sunday school. He has also done valuable work in spreading the teachings of his denomination to other fields, since he for four years did missionary work among the Shoshone Indians and was absent in England for two years in the same capacity. In politics Mr. Chandler is a stanch democrat and his voice is well known in the councils of his party.
HON. WILLIAM THOMAS DOUGHERTY.
Hon. William Thomas Dougherty, ex-secretary of state, was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1880, a son of Matthew Day and Mary Alice (Burns) Dougherty, who were also natives of the Keystone state, the former of Irish descent, while the latter was of Scotch lineage. The father was a farmer by occupa- tion and when his son, William T., was but three years of age removed with the family from Pennsylvania to Page county, Iowa, making the trip in the year 1883. He there devoted his attention to farming for many years and the old homestead is still in possession of the family. He died in 1914, having for many years survived his wife, who had passed away in 1889.
William T. Dougherty was but nine years of age at the time of his mother's death and his father never married again. He was reared, however, upon the home farm in Iowa and attended the country schools to the age of fourteen, finishing the work of the ninth grade. He afterward completed a four years' high school course in three years at Coin, Iowa, being but seventeen years of age when graduated at the head of his class in 1898, winning first honors in a class of more than twelve members, in which he was the only boy. At eighteen years of age he took up the profession of teaching and afterward taught and attended school alternately for eight years, within which period he completed a course in the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1902. He continued the work of teaching until 1906 and in the meantime, in 1904, was graduated from the Lincoln (Neb.) Business College. In the summer of 1906 he did post-graduate work in the Quincy (Ill.) Busi- ness College and through that period of his life devoted his time chiefly to expert accounting. During the fall of 1906 and throughout the ensuing year he was prin- cipal of a business college in Denver, Colorado. In 1908 he came to Idaho to accept
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the position of auditor with the firm of J. G. White & Company, a New York concern, which built the irrigation system in the vicinity of Richfield, Idaho, the complete system costing about four and a half millions. Mr. Dougherty was auditor for this company for two and a half years. In December, 1910, he turned his attention to the hotel business at Richfield and also developed a ranch in that vicinity which he still owns.
In politics Mr. Dougherty has always taken a deep interest as a supporter of democratic principles and for two years, in 1916 and 1917, he served as mayor of Richfield. In the fall of 1916 he was elected secretary of state of Idaho on the demo- cratic ticket, receiving a majority of more than three thousand, and on the Ist of January, 1917, he assumed the duties of the office, which he most acceptably filled. His work was done in a most systematic and thorough manner and in every possible way he safeguarded and promoted the interests of the commonwealth. Since his retirement from office he has become one of the, principal stockholders and secretary and treasurer of the Boise Ice & Produce Company.
On the 10th of August, 1907, Mr. Dougherty was married to Miss Geneva Mace, of Stafford, Kansas, and they have two sons: Winston, born June 18, 1908; and Wil- liam, born March 22, 1914. Mr. Dougherty is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his fraternal relations connect him with the Odd Fellows and the Elks. The elemental strength of his character was displayed in the manner in which he acquired his education, utilizing every opportunity for advancement in that direc- tion, and throughout his entire life he has remained a student not only of books but of men and affairs and is thoroughly versed on many of the sociological, economic and political problems of the day which are to the thinking man of greatest import.
MRS. EMMA M. FOWLER.
Mrs. Emma M. Fowler, of Middleton, is one of the well known pioneer women of Idaho. She passed over the site of Boise in 1862, when there was no vestige of the present city, although there were plenty of Indian tepees. From that period to the present she has been a witness of the wonderful growth and development of this section of the state. She was born at Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin, September 10, 1847, and there attended the public schools to the age of nine years, when she removed with her parents to Wilmington, Kansas, where her father, William Curtis, carried on farming for about four years. He was a native of England and came to the new world after his marriage to Jane Swann, of Loughborough, England. They first settled at Rome, New York, where they re- mained for a brief period and then went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A little later Mr. Curtis began farming near Beaver Dam, where he continued to till the soil for several years and then took up his abode in the town, where he carried on mer- chandising and the lumber business for five years. It was on the expiration of that period that he removed with his family to Kansas, and on leaving the Sunflower state they went to Colorado, where Mr. Curtis engaged in merchandising for about one year, at the end of which time they crossed the plains by ox team. It was some- times necessary to use cows which they drove with them in place of the oxen when the latter would become tired out. Almost three months were consumed on the journey from Colorado to Oregon, on which occasion they passed through the state of Idaho but did not remain, as there were no inhabitants in this section of the country save Indians. While en route they passed a place where white people had been killed by the Indians the day before. The oxen were very badly jaded and the young people had to walk much of the way. Mrs. Fowler was fifteen years of age at that time and recalls the startling coincidence that it was on the very spot where they stopped to discuss the dangers confronting them that several people were killed on the following day. There were seven wagons in the train in which the family traveled and probably on account of their numbers they were immune from Indian attack. They reached Auburn, Oregon, on the ist of September, 1862, and in June, 1865, the family returned to Idaho. Mr. Curtis passed through the state three years before traveling on the back of a mule, which was fouled by a snag when fording the Boise river, and his body was never recovered, although they searched all that day and a portion of the next and would have searched longer but that the guides advised them not to get separated from the rest of the train, as
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the Indians would murder them if they were left unprotected. The ranch of Will Fowler is located at the point where Mr. Curtis lost his life August 11, 1862. His widow, their two daughters and three sons proceeded on their way to Oregon with the rest of the party and the family experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Edwin C. Curtis is now residing with his sister Mrs. Fowler and they are the only survivors of the family.
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